Double Decker Diner & Dairy Bar in Downtown Manotick

The Double Decker Diner & Dairy Bar is located on Manotick Main Street by Clapp Lane. The location is easy to spot, if not for its uniqueness alone but certainly for its sense of presence. Happening upon a double decker bus anywhere in the Ottawa area is unusual so it is a real standout in its bright British red and a blue.



The recent interest by CTV Ottawa in finding the best chip truck in the region has rekindled our teenager's poutine interest. Although not regular fare, when he gets the opportunity to have chip truck fries, it must be poutine. So far, 853 CTV Ottawa readers have weighed in with their expertise and campaigning ability. As well, some 34 tweets have come in to @CTVOttawa registering their vote.

The highly unscientific leader board looks something like this:

Double Decker bus in Manotick	103
S&G's at Maitland and Carling	65
Wes's Fries in Arnprior	60
Magic Fryer, Canadian Tire, Coventry Rd	51
Poutine Queen in Almonte	48
Fritimania on St Joseph Blvd	42
Sweet Potato in Carp	33
Claude's Chip Stands - Cummings/Ogilvie	32
Mike's Chips, Carleton Place	28
GJ's on Trim Road btwn 174 & St-Joseph	28

We have been watching as the comments have been posted on the CTV website and it is clear there has been some very serious campaigning going on by a number of vendors. All in good fun as this is the chip truck season. And those on the leaderboard are likely fairly reliable locations, so no harm done I suppose.

On our way home from Gananoque yesterday, the teenager took a shot at validating first place, the Double Decker Diner & Dairy Bar in downtown Manotick, by ordering a regular poutine. He had been there once before and although he liked it, he is skeptical of its top seed.


The experience was as he expected. He says the crisp in their fries works well for poutine. Also, he appreciates that they understand the importance of layering in the cheese and gravy, not just putting it all on top. But like his prior experience, the curds just aren't a first rate product for him (no squeak) and the gravy is just too salty. At that proclamation, I went in for a taste and wholeheartedly agreed that this gravy is heart-stoppingly, too salty. What a distraction.



I took their smallest fry, called regular and enjoyed it well enough.

A soft drink is $1.25

Regular Fries $3.50 (What I would compare size-wise to a medium at other stands)
Large Fries $4.25
Family $8.00

Regular Poutine $4.75
Large Poutine $6.00

Parking is ample as is the seating. There are a number of umbrella'd picnic tables outside. Cozy tables and chairs on the second floor of the bus, makes for a retreat if you are looking for shelter from the elements.

They are trying to get the word out there and now have their own Facebook fan page.

Manotick is lucky to have the Double Decker right in town to service those with the chip truck craving as they really aren't too bad. However, the teenager still says the best fries are Wes' Chips in Arnprior and the best poutine is S & G Fries at Carling and Maitland. Though, he chooses to continue his search for the best, in case it is yet to be discovered!

In the language of the Poutine Chronicles, this place is 4 curds out of 5.

Double Decker Diner & Dairy Bar
Manotick Main Street by Clapp Lane
Manotick, Ontario

Mon to Fri: 11 am - 7 pm
Sat to Sun: 11:30 am - 7 pm

Wes' Chips in Arnprior

Wes' Chips is an institution on Madawaska Boulevard in Arnprior for as long as I can remember. Whenever we would head towards Algonquin Park and beyond for camping, canoeing or cottaging, it seemed to be a must to pull off the highway for a little breather in Arnprior.

All they sell is chips. No poutine, no hamburgers, no corn dogs. Just chips. Sized and priced at:
Small $3
Medium $4
Large $5
X-Large $7

On a recent cottage trip, I stopped in for a small. The small was a bit light on content compared to many competitors. But maybe just right for those looking for a bit of a taste but not needing the bounty.

Also the soft drinks go for a steep $1.50.

The line-up is constant and deep. Once you have your little gems, you can rest up at one of the 6 picnic tables in the park like setting to the side or you can hurry back on the road.



But there is no disputing that best of breed taste. There is a hint of sweetness to their potatoes. They have a nice crispness outside but, on the inside, the taste of their chosen potato is silky. I am not sure how they do it. A secret worth millions. The other trick is that they stay that way right through to the bottom of the box. I would have expected soggy. Another reason Wes' rates so high.



Wes' Chips
198 Madawaska Boulevard
Arnprior, Ontario
613.623-5492

Hours: 10 am - 8 pm

The Poutine Queen in Almonte

The Poutine Queen in Almonte is 45.6 km and 41 minutes from our door, so one might ask why would we travel so far for chip truck fare when S & G Fries is but 1.1 kms away and has a solid track record with our resident expert, the teenager.

There are two reasons that we made the drive today.

First, we heard on Friday that CTV Ottawa was in search of the best chip truck in the region. We have been following the website closely and also their Twitter account @CTVOttawa. As of this afternoon, the tally of the top 10 so far looked like this:

1. Wes's Fries in Arnprior
2. The Poutine Queen in Almonte
3. Claude's Chip Stands at Cummings and Ogilvie
   
4. Glen's on Richmond Road, Westboro
5. The double decker bus in Manotick
6. S & G Fries at Carling and Maitland
7. Mike's Chips on Bridge Street in Carleton Place
8. JP's Fries at Baseline and Clyde
9. The Magic Fryer at Canadian Tire on Coventry Road
10. Woody's Pit on Highway 7 near Innisville

Of the top 10, our resident expert had only had experience with 1, 4, 5 and 6. He personally would have rated S & G Fries higher than Glen's but this vote is just really one of popularity, not so much about ranking. And it is no surprise to anyone that Wes's Fries is leading the pack. But what about some of these other chip trucks so high on the list? What were they all about? Perhaps it was time to check out The Poutine Queen or Claude's Chip Stands.

Secondly, my MIL has had a request in with us for a month now that she would like to be taken out for chip truck fries some day. She just recently had another big numbered birthday (from here on in they are all big numbers) and although she can't drive anymore and has a few health issues, she seems virtually indestructible. Our guess is that if she wanted to do chip truck fries she likely would not hear much objection from her doctor, despite their questionable level of sustenance. If chip truck fries is what she wants, chip truck fries she will get. And today we would make good on our promise. The setting was ripe for doing product research.

With the MIL's assignment at hand and new information pouring at us from the web, we decided that taking a Sunday drive on a holiday Monday could justify the long road to Almonte. So the family piled in and off we went. Rolling miles of pavement, groves of trees, fields laden in sparse brush and soon we found our way to the pink truck in sleepy, downtown Almonte. It is located on High Street, just off of Bridge Street and beside the self-serve car wash. If it wasn't for the promotion sign in the window announcing the CTV Ottawa's search, you would never know that this place was holding second spot. There was no one around. I don't know when they close up at night but I was guessing that at 4:45 pm, we might be close to closing time.

The boys picked poutine and the girls picked fries. Although they were tasty, it was unanimous that it wasn't worth going the 45.6 kms when S&G Fries is just around the corner. The poutine fries were a bit cooled off since they came right from the 'wait' bin. The plain fries were piping hot as they came fresh from the fryer, but they were just too bland and needed more cook time. Our favourite fries have a crispy outside but a full, soft, well-cooked centre. I do see why Almonte might be fond of the eclectic pink truck and all it has to offer. After all, they do have Stuffed Poutine, heard to be all the rage.

On the plus side, the small fry at $2.75 was substantial and many extra fingers had to dig in to help the MIL with her bounty. In the end, she enjoyed the outing, the time to chat and the tasty fries that awaited her at her destination. These fringe benefits made the distance seem insignificant. Product research aside, today, this visit to a winning-est chip truck was all about her.

In the language of the Poutine Chronicles, this place is 3.5 curds out of 5.





The Poutine Queen
High Street near Bridge Street
Almonte, Ontario

Fine Lunch Dining at S & G Fries

You guessed it. This is the regular-sized poutine from S & G Fries, located at 1845 Carling Avenue, right next to both the Beer Store and the Produce Depot. They claim to make the Best Poutine in Ottawa and have many testimonials around the place to substantiate this declaration.



We ended up here because this afternoon was 'get organized for the prom day' and my son had a knowledgeable friend along for consultation. The payoff to her was lunch at S & G Fries. She accepted in a heartbeat. MP claims to be pure French Canadian stock and can speak with a voice of authority on poutine, as it is the national dish of Quebec.



MP gave the poutine at S & G Fries high marks. "The fries were cooked properly." No elaboration on what that meant. I took her at her word. She was also pleased when she saw the sign for St. Albert's cheese curds. Being within 10 minutes of the St. Albert Co-op Cheese Factory, MP says she often enjoys the curds so fresh that they are extra squeaky! As early as the end of the 19th century, master cheesemakers in a charming Eastern Ontario village were already manufacturing a highly renowned Cheddar: the St-Albert. Not all native Quebecers share the praise that MP has put on the standard of curd expected in her perfect poutine but suffice it to say, I really wouldn't know any better. St. Albert is a small town close to the Quebec border, but still in Ontario, so perhaps that is where the judgment lies.

When we asked MP for her final verdict, she said she thought the outstanding poutine actually came second to the poutine she loves and has had frequently at the Blooming Onion, once situated in the Byward Market, but now relocated to a spot near Cyrville Road & Maxime St. She is supported in this pronouncement by XPress' annual reader's poll in the past.




Although I don't have the pedigree that MP carries to best judge the perfect poutine, my tastebuds alone tell me that a trip to S & G Fries for any kind of chip craving, will undoubtedly prove to be a positive experience. In the language of the Poutine Chronicles, this place is at least 4.5 curds out of 5.

Is S & G Fries the best poutine in Ottawa?

S & G Fries
1845 Carling Avenue
Ottawa, Ontario
613.729.2129